Prof. Dr. Markku Kulmala
University of Helsinki, Department of Physics
Formation and Growth of Atmospheric Aerosols
Aerosol research at the University of Helsinki:
The Department of Physics at the University of Helsinki has over 20 years tradition in aerosol related atmospheric research. 35 scientists and doctoral students are currently engaged in this area. The main research subjects are aerosol dynamics (nucleation, condensation, coagulation, deposition), formation and growth of atmospheric aerosol particles and cloud droplets, atmospheric chemistry, urban aerosols, forest-atmosphere interactions (fluxes, photosynthesis, water transport). The basic theoretical resources consist of detailed computer programs describing basic phenomena, such as binary and ternary nucleation, multicomponent condensation, and photosynthesis, and of extensive model for aerosol dynamics, atmospheric chemistry and cloud microphysics. The basic experimental resources consist of a well equipped aerosol laboratory and two field stations (SMEAR I and SMEAR II). In the field stations e.g. aerosol dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, micrometeorology, gas exchange between forest and atmosphere, soil chemistry and forest growth are measured continuously.
Personal details and research interests:
Professor of Physics 2001-;
Professor of Environmental Physics and Chemistry, U. of Helsinki, 1996-2001;
Head of the Laboratory of Aerosol and Environmental Physics 1990-;
Ph.D. (Physics), U. of Helsinki, 1988.
Chairman, Committee on Nucleation and Atmospheric Aerosols;
Member of 5 international scientific Committees.
GAeF Marian Smoluchowski Award for Aerosol Research, 1997. Coordinator of the EU-project BIOFOR, partner in the 10 other EU-projects HILLCLOUD, FREETROPE, INCA, OSOA and HEAPSS.
Main fields of expertise:
Nucleation and condensation theories and their application to formation and growth of atmospheric aerosols and cloud droplets. He has published 137 peer-reviewed papers and supervised 16 Ph.D. theses.